Michigan
Signature City Detroit
Program No. 21851RJ
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Signature City Detroit
Signature City Detroit
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Participant Reviews
Based on 37 Reviews
SHOWING
To see Detroit through our leader’s eyes made this journey a joy.
— Review left October 20, 2025
Try to dispel any preconceived notions you may have about Detroit before you arrive. You'll have a chance to experience the positivism that's been driving the city forward. Our group leader Sue certainly demonstrated the energy and enthusiasm that seems to have enveloped the city. Our guides, instructors, docents and bus drivers (Derek was phenomenal) were excellent and shared their obvious affection for the city and its people. I arrived being a "sort of fan" of Motown, but, thanks to Samuel Donald's rousing introduction to Motown's personalities and our visit to Hitsville, USA, I returned home being a fledgling Motown junkie. I added Fixins, a soul food restaurant very close to our hotel, to my list of very favorite restaurants. A primary reason I enjoy Road Scholar programs is that they introduce us to many people, places and things we simply aren't likely to experience as "tourists". And, this program gets high marks in that regard. Sure, we saw some of the "touristy stuff", but Sue and our other instructors/docents added significant details we otherwise wouldn't have heard about.
— Review left October 18, 2025
Detroit - Not just cars, there was something for everyone to experience - music, museums, murals and food!
— Review left September 28, 2025
Absolutely wonderful program, and I recommend Road Scholar to friends.
— Review left September 26, 2025
My husband and I really enjoyed the Signature City Detroit program. Kim was a fun, easygoing leader, and her rapport with the bus driver was excellent. I was amazed at the turnaround Detroit has had after all the difficult years. The lectures were entertaining and enlightening. Highly recommend.
— Review left September 12, 2025
There's a lot to see, do & learn in Detroit. This trip covered a lot. Highlights were the Motown recording studio tour, Ford assembly line tour and a day at Greenfield Village, the Edsel Ford estate tour, & Detroit Institute of Art. Our leader Sue Shoemaker was excellent. Our group of 22 people was just the right size. Hotel, tour bus & meals were all excellent. Hotel located near Greektown with lots of restaurants within walking distance.
— Review left May 20, 2025
History!!
The DIA was an unexpected 5 stars
Tours of downtown and waterfront were great.
Gros Point was pretty interesting
— Review left May 17, 2025
Wonderful time to explode previous stereotypes about a once-vibrant city that went through some hard times but is now rebounding. Lessons to be learned here.
— Review left October 23, 2024
A varied program provided an excellent opportunity to learn about Detroit.
— Review left October 1, 2024
If you think Detroit is a burned out, high crime city, you will be pleasantly surprised. The hotel is downtown and there is a large area that you can safely walk around between the riverwalk and the stadium area. There are lots of restaurants. Streets are clean and people are very friendly and they are proud of their city. I suggest using Google Earth to get familiar with the downtown area. It is easy to get around and there are only a few streets that you need to know. This is an ambitious tour and it concentrates on cars, history, music, art, architecture, and there are plenty of food options for the two free nights.
— Review left September 18, 2024
There is so much to see and learn about in Detroit and the area. Beautiful downtown with interesting architecture. Great museums. Go soon before it's overrun with the tourists it deserves.
— Review left September 17, 2024
Detroit is much more than our previously-held ideas about the city. It has a rich history, wonderful residents, a good deal to see and appreciate over a five-day visit.
— Review left September 13, 2024
Detroit is safe, clean, and being beautifully restored. This program is a wonderful mix of museums, vehicle factory tours, and lectures about the decline and revival of a great city.
— Review left August 11, 2024
A comprehensive intro to an interesting American city. Great passionate instructors.
— Review left August 10, 2024
Fascinating city with lots of history - musical and automotive! Great architecture, museums and restaurants.. Detroit is definitely on the upswing!
— Review left May 28, 2024
I learned a lot about Detroit in this excellent program. Sue, the group leader was superb: very personable and organized. Detroit is a fascinating city and I am glad I signed up for this program. It is one day too short, but otherwise excellent.
— Review left May 27, 2024
An amazing program. There is so much to do in Detroit and I fell in love with the City. This program packs a lot in and it is as worth every minute!
I give this program six stars on a four-star scale!
— Review left May 26, 2024
Not knowing anything about Detroit but its bankruptcy and shuttered homes, I was happy to see that the city's coming back. I like the "re-purposed" buildings being saved enhancing the struggle the city has had.
— Review left May 24, 2024
Road Scholar is an excellent way to experience the joy of travel. The Team offers great information, direct and accessible venues, and diverse programs.
— Review left May 22, 2024
Detroit, despite its reputation, has a LOT to offer historically, aesthetically, and culturally, and this superbly planned program covers most of the bases very well. The city still faces socio/economic challenges, but its downtown and its midtown cultural/museum district have come alive over the last decade, and this program covers them very well, as well as the auto industry which has underlain much of Detroit's economy for the last century. But a tip: as long as the program remains (only) four full days long, I suggest you give yourself an extra day on your own to see several items the program (already full) cannot cover in just 4 days, including the Historical Society Museum, more time at the Charles Wright African-American history museum, and perhaps Henry Ford's Greenfield Village (a Midwest equivalent of Williamsburg).
— Review left October 22, 2023
Detroit has a bad reputation- and it doesn't deserve it - it is unique and changing, more people need to explore it.
— Review left October 5, 2023
A packed 4 days in Detroit gave us a new appreciation for the history and future of the city.
— Review left October 2, 2023
This was my second Road Scholar trip and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend a trip to Detroit. So much to see and do. Some family and friends wondered why I would choose to go to Detroit. I'm so glad I went and they would be wise to consider a trip to a wonderful city with much to offer.
— Review left September 30, 2023
A great trip to Detroit. Very fast paced but learned alot about this "up & coming" city.
— Review left September 23, 2023
This was a very educational trip to an urban destination you might not think to visit. Some stunning architecture, beautiful natural surroundings and a variety of sites to see and visit. The Motown information was so interesting and visiting a truck assembly line was a plus. The Ford Museum and estate were lovely places to experience. Would highly recommend this trip.
— Review left September 23, 2023
This program has really changed my perspective about Detroit. It has really made strives in recent years to make a comeback. The city is clean and beautiful! There are so many interesting things to see in and about the city, from Hitsville, USA, to the Ford factory. I highly recommend this program. Come see for yourself!
— Review left September 15, 2023
I've changed my opinion about the city of Detroit...it's dynamic, growing and is moving in the right direction....forward.
— Review left May 21, 2023
What a terrific tour of Detroit and surrounding areas we just experienced! Sue was a fantastic group leader and we could feel her love of the area as she showed us around town. Our bus drivers, our local guides, our hotel, our restaurant meals and the sights and sounds were great.
This was a very memorial five day adventure.
— Review left October 29, 2022
We would highly recommend this Signature City adventure. You will not be disappointed with the variety of learning adventures and excellent instructors. It is surprisingly easy to get around the downtown hotel area on foot or by car. It is clean, safe and full of gorgeous old buildings.
— Review left October 25, 2022
Detroit, a city of glamour and very current!
— Review left October 22, 2022
A fine introduction to the "new" Detroit. I think I got a good flavor of the city, its residents and its history.
— Review left October 2, 2022
Great trip for history buffs!
— Review left September 17, 2022
I enjoyed visiting The Food Field and learning about how this non-profit group is feeding the community with fruits and vegetables. The Motown Museum was very enjoyable and I learned some things that I was not previously aware of. I also got to view at the Rouge Factory how an F-150 Truck is put together on a moving assembly line. I had the benefit of exploring Greenfield Village. I also had the advantage of visiting Edsel and Eleanor Ford House and Garden. I also appreciate the visit to the Charles H. Wright Museum. With my free time in the evening I was able to go see on opening night Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. I had see this show previously but enjoyed it again with my friend, as well as three new Road Scholar friends in the city where the group started. As a bonus at the end of the show the writer of the show, Dominique Morisseau, came out from backstage to talk to the audience as well as their longtime manager, Shelly Berger, and the sole survivor of the group, Otis Williams. What a special treat their appearances were.
— Review left August 14, 2022
A very interesting program that will change the way you see Detroit and get you thinking about city revitalization programs. Great variety of experiences.
— Review left August 13, 2022
Detroit is so interesting and has so much to see. You cannot imagine how great a trip it is. The only thing I did not like was the hotel. My room was not cleaned the entire time and the breakfast was very boring and limited.
— Review left August 12, 2022
Forget your preconceived notions about Detroit. For most tourists, it is "off the radar," but definitely worth a visit. The Road Scholar program is a great overview of the city and some of it's major attractions. Highly recommended.
— Review left May 31, 2019
Detroit?! Who would want to go to Detroit? The answer is you if you are interested in learning how cities deal with extraordinarily difficult circumstances and survive. And we can't forget Motown. You will be amazed by how modest Studio A produced the marvelous sounds of the Supremes, the Temptations and many others.
— Review left May 25, 2019